Cancer-Fighting Agency Adopts New Ethics Rules

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The board of Texas’ cancer-fighting agency has approved a new code of conduct and ethics for members and employees in an effort to the restore credibility and confidence in awarding grants.

The rule changes approved Friday were based on a 2013 law designed to reform operations at the $3 billion Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

Major revisions include updated conflict-of-interest guidelines, rules on how grants are recommended, and an annual report posted on the agency’s website of campaign contributions over $1,000 made by members of CPRIT’s oversight committee.

The agency’s former chief commercialization officer, Jerald “Jerry” Cobbs, was indicted in 2012 on a charge of securing the execution of a document by deception. The charge is related to an $11 million taxpayer-funded grant awarded in 2010.

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